The FBI and US Secret Service have confirmed that they are treating Sunday's shooting at Donald Trump's International Golf Club in Palm Beach as an apparent "assassination attempt".
On September 15, the 78-year-old former POTUS was the apparent target of a second assassination attempt at the Trump International Golf Club west of Palm Beach.
The Republican presidential candidate's team thankfully revealed that Trump was "safe and unharmed" after gunshots were fired "in his vicinity".
The Guardian reports that US Secret Service agents opened fire after spotting a person with a firearm at the golf course.
Law enforcement later confirmed officials said the gunman was apparently hiding in some bushes near the property line of the golf course. While the Secret Service agents were clearing holes in preparation for Trump to continue playing his game, they spotted a rifle barrel in the bushes.
Rafael Barros, the Secret Service special agent in charge of the Miami field office, said in a statement, per CNN: "Former President Donald Trump is safe and unharmed following a possible attempted assassination shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday at Trump International Golf Club at West Palm Beach.
"US Secret Service personnel opened fire on a gunman located near the property line."
Officials add that the alleged male gunman was located roughly 300 to 500 yards away from Trump when he was finally spotted.
After agents opened fire, the gunman is said to have dropped two backpacks and other items and fled in a black Nissan car. The FBI has since stated that the gunman was carrying an AK47-style rifle with a scope attached and a GoPro camera - which they believe signifies that he intended to record footage.
Inside the backpacks were also some ceramic tiles.
Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe told CNN that the "whole set-up indicates a very high level of pre-planning."
After getting away in a vehicle, local police officers flooded Interstate 95 and were successful in stopping the suspect.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed that a suspect had been detained by authorities.
The suspect has since been named as Ryan Wesley Routh by US media, with CNN citing three law enforcement sources.
In response, President Joe Biden has responded to the alarming news, saying: "I am relieved that the former President is unharmed."
The outgoing President added that he has directed his team "to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety."
Additionally, Trump's rival in the upcoming Presidential Election, Kamala Harris, has taken to social media to share the following statement: “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
Of course, this second apparent assassination attempt comes a little over two months. On July 13, Trump was injured after he was targeted by 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks during a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania.
One rally-goer was killed amid the gunfire.
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